Officer 'used police database to blackmail victims'

A Metropolitan police officer used the police computer database to blackmail people, a court heard today.

Amerdeep Singh Johal was accused of demanding up to £98,000 after threatening to expose them as drug dealers.

The constable, 28, spoke only to give his name, age and address at Westminster magistrates court. He is charged with 12 counts of blackmail and one of misconduct.

Donna Rayner, prosecuting, said Johal had gathered information from the police intelligence database to use against his victims. The court heard how he wrote letters and sent texts demanding sums between £29,000 and £89,000.

If his victims did not pay, he threatened to release incriminating information about them to their families.

Johal had identified known drug dealers and contacted them to say he had access to their drugs and could pass them on in return for money.

"He was blackmailing and scamming, and using his office as a police officer to make contact with people in the underworld, using sensitive information obtained from the data base to let them know he knew what he was talking about," Ms Rayner said.

Phillip Williams, for Johal, said the reason for his actions was because his wife and twoyearold son had been threatened by criminals.

Johal was remanded in custody until a trial at the Old Bailey on 2 November.